Improvement in basket braiding-blocks



C. 0. GiLLETTE. Improvement in Basket Braidng-Blocks.

No. 130,711. Patented Aug.2o,`1s72.

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' @wie UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES O. GILIJETTE, OF STREETSBOROUGH, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BASKET BRAIDING-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,911, dated August 20, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, UHAs. O. GILLETTE, of Streetsborough, in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Braiding-Blocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and tothe letters and 'u1 gures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of one oi' the sections, and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal vertical section of my block when rigged.

This invention has relation to the manufacture of baskets; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices constituting an adjustable inside mold or braiding-block, designed to be used while interweaving the tillen In the accompanying drawing, the letter A designates a bottom plate or hood provided with wings, and designed to hold the main strips in place during the first part of the 0peration of making the basket. After the main strips are woven together in this hood, forming the bottom of the basket, they are bent upward, and the win gs b are turned up against theln to hold them in position. B designates the braiding-block, consisting of two parts, O and D, usually made hollow to secure lightness, and adapted to slide the one within the other in the following manner: The main portion of the block O is recessed at its inner end to admit the tongue c of the end portion D of the block. This tongue is usually built up of two side boards, f, a top, a, and an end board, g, in order to give it strength and lightness. Plates 1th are let into the bottom of the block,

and provided with apertures to receive the pins of the hood The top board lc of the part O of the block extends the full length thereof, and is slotted at l to admit the handle e of the end portion D. Central journal openings m lm are made in the, top and bottom boards of the main part C ofthe block for the introduction of a rod or temporary axle, secured to a wall, bench, or other clonvenient support, so that the operator can turn the block to snit his convenience while weaving in the ller. At its base the block is rectangular in form. From this rectangular base the sides of the block slant upward and outward, with rounded corn ers, gradually increasing in curvature from the bottom to the top of said block. After the main strips are woven together the braidingblock is placed upon the hood and the strips turned up, being held in place by the wings of the hood. The ller is -at the same time interwoven with the upright portions of the main strips, the parts O and D ofthe block being separated by sliding the tongue of the end portion as far out of its recess in the main portion of the block as may be necessary. After the basket is iinished the block may be loosened by sliding its parts together by means of the handle z, and easily withdrawn.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The flaring braiding-block, consisting of the main section C having slotted top, and the sliding section D having handle z, for weaving the filler77 of a basket, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. O. GILLETTE.

Witnesses:

B. S. CoGsWELL, I. F. WILGOX. 

